How to Garden With Drainage Pipes Cut in Half

Drainage pipes come in many sizes; choose a bigger size if you can.

When you start to look creatively, nearly any type of container can be a space for plants to grow. People use everything from soda bottles to yogurt containers to old kitchen sinks for growing a container garden, so why not an old drainage pipe? If you have a drainage pipe that is already cut in half, use it to grow vegetables or your favorite flowers in your yard; the pipe will act as a barrier to keep weeds out.

1

Drill quarter-inch drainage holes into the bottom of the pipe every 6 to 9 inches. For plastic and PVC, "This Old House" recommends using a sharp twist bit made of black oxide. For fiberglass, use a glass and tile bit made from carbide. In either case, drill slowly to prevent cracking or breaking.

2

Dig a trench into which you can lay the drainage pipe, at a depth that is about two-thirds the height of the pipe. Dig the trench about 6 inches longer than the length of your pipe. Dig deep enough to place most of the pipe in the ground, providing stability at the sides, while also having some of the pipe stick up from the ground to keep weeds out.

3

Place the drainage pipe into the trench.

4

Lay a 1-inch layer of pea or quarter minus gravel into the bottom of the pipe.

5

Fill the rest of the pipe with potting mix or garden soil, up to about 1 inch from the top of the container.

6

Water the soil and allow it to settle. Add more soil until it is up to about 1 inch from the top.

7

Fill in any gaps or open areas between the outside soil and the pipe using the dirt you removed from the trench.

8

Plant your desired seeds or starts in your new planter, following the instructions on the seed packet or starter label for the correct planting depth and spacing. Choose plants appropriate for the amount of sun or shade in the area where you've placed your garden.

9

Water the container often, but allow it to dry out between waterings. Container gardens tend to dry out faster than gardens built directly into the ground.

Things You Will Need

Drill

1/4-inch bit

Shovel

Pea gravel or 1/4-minus gravel

Potting mix or garden soil

Tip

If your drainage pipes are not already cut in half lengthwise, you can cut them widthwise instead. Stand the cylindrical-shaped vessels upright and then fill them with potting mix or garden soil. Another option is to put the two sides of your cut drainage pipe together to form a cylindrical shape, and then sink them in the ground 6 to 12 inches to hold them together as two halves of a cylinder.